Top 6 Toronto IV Therapy Nutrients to Combat Stress

POSTED BY TORONTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CENTRE

Between traffic jams, paperwork, and family obligations, we know how it feels when your to-do list piles up! If you need help unwinding, consider booking a session for IV therapy with the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.

Next to other stress-busting methods – such as yoga, meditation, and exercise – complementary nutrient therapy can promote positive effects for reducing stress. When the human body undergoes tension, a cascade of actions occurs, which can cause digestive issues and depleted energy levels; some of these changes can even lead to nutrient deficiencies. Thus, treating nutrient defects may benefit mental strains – but this may not be as easy as 1-2-3!

For this blog post, our functional IV Lounge discusses:

- The connection between stress and nutrition;
- IV drip nutrients that may be recommended for targeting stress;
- Additional tips for relieving mental tension;
- How to access our functional medicine and vitamin drip therapies.

The link between nutrient therapies and stress relief

Nutrient-based therapies (i.e. oral vitamins and intravenous therapy) are supportive for immune and cellular functions and for getting much-needed energy to cope with stress. Some research has even shown that key foods and nutrients – like polyunsaturated fats, leafy greens, and omega-3 fatty acids – may be helpful for regulating cortisol, which is the hormone that triggers the “fight-or-flight” responses.

Unfortunately, stress can trigger poor eating habits. For example, when get an ‘adrenaline rush’ from acute stress, this can suppress your appetite. On the other hand, chronic stress boosts cortisol and can cause cravings for sugary, fatty food. This lack of nutritious eating can disrupt sleep, cause insulin resistance, and possibly lead to or worsen a nutritional deficiency. This is why some functional medicine and IV therapy practitioners aim to correct deficiencies for treating stress.

6 IV drip nutrients to support stress-busting effects

In our IV Lounge, we customize IV therapy drips with the functional medicine model. This means t therapeutic doses of vitamins are measured for your biology only! If beating stress is one of your chief health concerns, we may recommend running a personalized nutritional assessment (Genova Diagnostics) to measure your nutrient levels. If these results show that you’re deficient in nutrients linked to stress (i.e. magnesium, vitamin D, and/or B vitamins), we can personalize an IV drip for your deficiencies and any other factors that may be worsening stress (i.e. oxidative stress, chronic dehydration, etc.).

So, if you feel like you have ‘too much on your plate’, try these nutrients for your next vitamin drip:

- Amino acids: Supplementing with a combination of amino acids and micronutrients has been linked to stress reduction. One Nutrients study confirmed that these supplements led to declines in irritability and fatigue.
- B vitamins: These nutrients hold key roles in brain function, so topping these levels up may be needed. In fact, “Deficiency in these vitamins, in particular folate, B6, and B12, has been related to several neurological disorders, including depression, anxiety, and stress,” confirms a Journal of Affective Disorders report.
- Glutathione: Scientists have learned that chronic stress can deplete glutathione levels in the body. Alleviating this deficiency may offer neuroprotective effects that may potentially improve your stress response.

Quick IV Drip Tip

Ask your IV therapy provider about vitamin D intramuscular injection. In a study published in Nutrients, vitamin D supplementation was shown to “…lower levels of perceived stress,” confirms New Medical Life Sciences.

- Magnesium: One of the roles this key nutrient has is to help regulate neurotransmitters; lacking it can potentially cause anxiety. Taking it as a supplement may be beneficial for lowering cortisol levels.
- NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide): NAD naturally lowers in the body with age. When this coenzyme is depleted, it may lessen serotonin production. NAD+ IV therapy can replenish NAD levels, which may help decrease nerve-racking feelings.
- Vitamin C: According to The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, “…several studies showed that ascorbic acid supplementation produces antidepressant effect and improves mood.” Stress can increase oxidative damage in the body. As it contains powerful antioxidant effects, vitamin C is capable of scavenging free radicals to fight oxidative damage, which may assist with stress management.

Additional coping mechanisms to note

An IV boost of custom vitamins can contribute to optimal health improvements when combined with healthy living and other functional medicine therapies. Give these healthy tools a try to reduce mental tension:

- Acupuncture: May help regulate the nervous system to support relaxation.
- Sleep: Remove electronic devices from your bedside to improve your sleep quality.
- Exercise: Check out your local gym facilities – physical activity releases feel-good endorphins!
- Psychotherapy: This treatment modality can introduce you to a wide range of stress-busting strategies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy.

Wellness enhancements can begin at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre

Need help taking charge of your wellness? Do you want to support healthy ageing, hair/nail growth or a boost in energy? We’ve got you covered with functional medicine and vitamin drip therapy! Integrative functional medicine aims to treat each patient with a whole-body approach, embracing uniqueness with lab testing and personalized therapies. Our experienced team of naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners and registered nurses tend to your needs in our IV Lounge.

Vitamin IV therapy sessions are closely monitored by our team. Our IV Lounge is designed for patients who require complementary nutrient therapy to assist with general needs, such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies, rehydration after a sports game, for promoting speedy healing, and fostering DNA repair. Each IV drip is personalized with a dose that reflects your needs. Our IV drips are always freshly blended on site without preservatives – just natural ingredients! You’ll find plenty of options listed in our IV Lounge menu, including different B vitamins (i.e. vitamin B1 and B12), essential minerals, NAD+, vitamin C, several types of amino acids (including glutamic acid), glutathione, and more.

Our clinicians can prescribe and safely integrate IV therapy into a treatment plan. An integrated treatment plan from us may contain oral supplementation, plant-based medicine, holistic nutrition, Western and naturopathic medicine, and more. We carefully scrutinize your therapies to avoid medication interactions while embracing a holistic approach to wellness.

New patients are welcome to visit our wellness team today! IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre may be beneficial for reducing your stress load – call us now to book your first session.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media.

References

American Psychological Association. (2019, October 30). Mindfulness meditation: A research-proven way to reduce stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/mindfulness/meditation

American Psychological Association. (2024, October 22). Stress won’t go away? Maybe you are suffering from chronic stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/chronic

Armborst, D., Metzner, C., Alteheld, B., Bitterlich, N., Rösler, D., & Siener, R. (2018). Impact of a Specific Amino Acid Composition with Micronutrients on Well-Being in Subjects with Chronic Psychological Stress and Exhaustion Conditions: A Pilot Study. Nutrients, 10(5), 551. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10050551

Cuciureanu MD, Vink R. Magnesium and stress. In: Vink R, Nechifor M, editors. Magnesium in the Central Nervous System [Internet]. Adelaide (AU): University of Adelaide Press; 2011. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507250/

Harber, V.J., Sutton, J.R. Endorphins and Exercise. Sports Medicine 1, 154–171 (1984). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-198401020-00004

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Military Nutrition Research. The Role of Protein and Amino Acids in Sustaining and Enhancing Performance. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1999. 14, Amino Acid and Protein Requirements: Cognitive Performance, Stress, and Brain Function. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK224629/

Kawashima, A., Sekizawa, A., Koide, K., Hasegawa, J., Satoh, K., Arakaki, T., Takenaka, S., & Matsuoka, R. (2015). Vitamin C Induces the Reduction of Oxidative Stress and Paradoxically Stimulates the Apoptotic Gene Expression in Extravillous Trophoblasts Derived From First-Trimester Tissue. Reproductive Sciences, 22(7), 783. https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719114561561

Mahdavifar, B., Hosseinzadeh, M., Salehi-Abargouei, A., Mirzaei, M., & Vafa, M. (2021). Dietary intake of B vitamins and their association with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms: A cross-sectional, population-based survey. Journal of Affective Disorders, 288, 92-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.055

Massudi, H., Grant, R., Guillemin, G. J., & Braidy, N. (2013). NAD+ metabolism and oxidative stress: The golden nucleotide on a crown of thorns. Redox Report : Communications in Free Radical Research, 17(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1179/1351000212Y.0000000001

Moritz, B., Schmitz, A. E., Rodrigues, A. L. S., Dafre, A. L., & Cunha, M. P. (2020). The role of vitamin C in stress-related disorders. The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 85, 108459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108459

Sinha, R. (2018). Role of addiction and stress neurobiology on food intake and obesity. Biological Psychology, 131, 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.05.001

“Stress and Health” from The Nutrition Source, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, reviewed October 2021, viewed on April 2, 2025.

Trovato B, Godos J, Varrasi S, Roggio F, Castellano S, Musumeci G. Physical Activity, Sun Exposure, Vitamin D Intake and Perceived Stress in Italian Adults. Nutrients. 2023; 15(10):2301. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15102301

Wild B, Brenner J, Joos S, Samstag Y, Buckert M, Valentini J. Acupuncture in persons with an increased stress level-Results from a randomized-controlled pilot trial. PLoS One. 2020 Jul 23;15(7):e0236004. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236004. PMID: 32701984; PMCID: PMC7377446.

Zalachoras, I., Hollis, F., Ramos-Fernández, E., Trovo, L., Sonnay, S., Geiser, E., Preitner, N., Steiner, P., Sandi, C., & Morató, L. (2020). Therapeutic potential of glutathione-enhancers in stress-related psychopathologies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 114, 134-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.015

Top 6 Toronto IV Therapy Nutrients to Combat Stress

Login